Thursday Morning Coffee: The Thursday Five.

Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers. It's diet and nutrition time here at Capitol Ideas World HQ. Just as you need to eat five servings a day of fruits and vegetables, here's five stories that are a part of this nutritious breakfast.

So step away from your JustJared, put down the Perez Hilton and postpone your trip to Huffington Post. Here's some state political news that'll do your body good.

1. So that Corbett administration spending hike for public education we've been hearing so much about? Turns out much of it is going to cover pension costs and only a little bit will go toward making your kid smarter. Our Mothership colleague Steve Esack (with an assist from your humble blogger) ran the numbers and found that Gov. Tom Corbett's $8.2 billion education budget would increase student-related spending by less than half a percent from the current 2011-12 funding levels. The retirement costs would take up nearly 10 percent of the overall education budget and eat up about 93 percent of Corbett's increased allocations. Thus it's safe to say that the administration's chest-beating about its commitment to public education is a .... good source of fiber.

5. State Capitol Policeshut down a bank of elevators and closed a stairway leading to Gov. Tom Corbett’s office and the offices of dozens of state lawmakers Wednesday in what an administration spokesman described as a “preemptoive effort” to avoid a repeat of a noisy protest last year by activists for the disabled. In an appearance before a House oversight committee, state General Services Secretary Sheri L. Philips claimed Wednesday’s action was not taken in specific response to the activists. Philips said the agency, which has oversight of the Capitol police, had adopted a policy “two or three weeks ago” putting limits on large crowds in confined spaces in the building. It was modeled on one in place in the U.S. Capitol.

Budget Hearings Continue In The House and Senate Today.In the Senate: 9:30 a.m.: Judiciary 1 p.m.: Department of Agriculture 3 p.m.: Department of State

In the House: 10 a.m.: Department of Labor & Industry 1 p.m.: Department of Community & Economic Development 3 p.m: PA Commission on Community Colleges

What Goes On. Democratic state Sens. Lisa Boscola, Judy Schwank, Mike Stack, John Blake and Jim Brewster hold a noon newser in the Capitol rotunda to observe the 1-year anniversary of the demise of the adultBasic insurance program.

You Say It's Your Birthday Dept. Best wishes go out this morning to readers Christian Leinbach, David John and Greg Becker. Congratulations.

On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning. For the late Davy Jones. Always the "Daydream Believer."

Current Comments

Do your figures include the elimination of the accountability block grant that funds many full day kindergarten programs? This loss will take many districts substantially negative from last years hideous numbers. Many will lose five figures plus. Corbett's only commitment to public education is to systematicly defund it. Then blame starving districts for failures and job losses. Unless the legislators address this mess the republican house will likely pay for his incredibly poor decisions this fall.

Posted By: Brian | Mar 1, 2012 11:43:21 PM

It is generally known that 70% to 80% of the costs in public education are personnel costs that includes salary and benefits. One of the lucrative benefits mandated by the state is the teachers' pension. Two years ago the General Assembly acknowledged the crisis they and their predecessors created with a pension increase they passed in in 2001.

Taxpayers also pay 6% of salary into Social Security fund for each district employee. So this year teacher retirement payments were 14.65% of payroll. Next year it will be PSERS 12% plus 6% FICA for 18%. The state covers 50% of these costs. Local taxpayers pickup the rest.

Thank goodness he is keeping this commitment.
if the districts had to cover the full 100% of the cost there would be far more layoffs.